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Clooney’s Foundation to Open 7 Schools for 3,000 Syrian Refugee Children

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Good News Network
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George and Amal Clooney are making sure that despite the overwhelming obstacles faced by Syrian refugee children overseas, they will have the opportunity to seek an education.

That’s because the Clooney Foundation for Justice has just announced that they will be donating $2.25 million to build 7 public schools for 3,000 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

The donation, which was made as a part of an educational campaign in partnership with Google and Unicef, will hopefully offer relief during one of the largest humanitarian crises since WWII.

RELATED: Shakira Built 7 Schools in the Poorest Areas of South America

“They have been victims of geography and circumstance, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope,” said the couple in a statement to the AP. “Our goal with this initiative is to help provide Syrian refugee children with an education and put them on a path to be the future leaders their generation desperately needs.”

“Thousands of young Syrian refugees are at risk – the risk of never being a productive part of society. Formal education can help change that. That’s our goal with this initiative. We don’t want to lose an entire generation because they had the bad luck of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said the Clooneys.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by George Baird, CC / Unicef, Romenzi)

Adorable Family Wears Helmets in Solidarity With Newborn Son

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McKinley Corbley
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This family may be considered “hardheaded”, but they would do anything in order to stick together – even if it means wearing helmets in the sweltering Texas heat.

The Gutierrez family recently welcomed the birth of a hefty baby boy named Jonas. Currently at 4 months old, the infant is an adorable addition to the family.

Jonas’s parents were horrified to discover, however, that he was quickly developing a flat spot on the back of his head. It also didn’t help that – unlike most newborns – he was a very heavy sleeper. Lying on his back only made the flat spot worse, to the point where it was widening the features on the rest of his face.

Luckily, the condition, which is known as brachycephaly, is easily treatable. All Jonas has to do to keep a healthy head shape is to wear a helmet.

RELATED: Dad Has the Perfect Plan to Cheer 6-Year-old Who Wet Her Pants

For the next few months, Jonas is destined to wear the little helmet so it can mold his head to the proper dimensions.

While older kids might be a little embarrassed by the device, Jonas’s older sister Camila loved it – so much so that she demanded the rest of the family wear helmets to match Jonas’s.

Jonas’s parents Shanya and Gary appreciated the gesture of solidarity and posted photos of the helmet-wearing family to social media. The photos quickly went viral, with users applauding their endearing familial unity.

“Let’s be honest: having two young kids can be tough, so helmets are probably a good idea anyway,” Gutierrez told TODAY. “Now I feel a little less anxious if Camila throws her toys and hits Jonas or if he takes a dreaded tumble off the couch.”

Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends – OR,  (Photo by Shanya Gutierrez)

When Pizza Man’s Car Breaks Down, He Doggedly Delivers Pizza on Foot

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McKinley Corbley
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This pizza delivery driver went above and beyond the call of duty after his car broke down earlier this month – and his grateful customer is making sure that he is properly repaid for his kindness.

Ashley Schafer was at her home in Flint, Michigan when she decided to order some Domino’s pizzas for her husband’s dinner. Sometime around midnight, however, she was confused to see that the pizza had left the store at 11:24PM – and it still had not arrived.

“An hour later I still had no pizza and was about to call when there was a knock,” says Schafer. “It was a manager informing me that the delivery driver’s car had broken down, a deaf young man named Benjamin, and he was worried.”

CHECK OUT: Icelandic Postal Workers Go Above and Beyond When There is No Address – Just a Hand-Drawn Map

23-year-old Ben Houston had indeed been on his way with the order when his car broke down. Because his cell phone had recently stopped working as well, he had no way of contacting Schafer or the Domino’s store about his predicament.

Houston then started knocking on nearby doors in order to see if he could use someone’s phone. Eventually, a man answered the door and let Houston call his manager.

“He deserves a round of applause…” says Houston. “Not sure what your name is, but unsung hero, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for having patience with me and not closing the door on me.”

Houston then waited for one of his team members to pick him up from his broken down car. After waiting a long time, however, he decided to go ahead and deliver the pizza to the customer’s house.

RELATED: Football Player and Uber Driver Become Besties After Trip Across 5 States

Then, on the way to Schafer’s house, he saw one of his coworkers drive past. He rushed back to his car only to find that the coworker still wasn’t there. For the second time that night, he started hiking back over to the woman’s house.

Finally, he was able to give her the pizza.

“Half an hour later there was another knock, it was Ben with my pizza who was apologizing profusely and explaining what happened,” wrote Schafer. “I said I’d heard, I completely understand and it was not a problem at all.”

After taking the pizza inside, she looked out the window and was surprised to see Houston hiking back down the road.

RELATED: Uber Driver Saves Stranded Couple On the Way to Their Wedding – And Goes the Extra Mile

“He had WALKED me my pizza. If I wasn’t alone with two young kids asleep I would’ve went after him. I immediately called the store to let them know so they could go find this amazing young man.”

“It might seem silly, but in a world that right now feels tumultuous and full of hate and in a city where itself and its people are constantly put down, there was this bright light that was Ben. He went far above and beyond, caring more about getting me a stupid pizza then staying at his car and waiting for help.”

Schafer has since started a GoFundMe page which has already raised $2,000 for either “keeping him on the road … or new shoes for when he goes above and beyond”.

Pie It Forward: Click To Share – OR,

Even With Her Heart Problems, 8-Year-old Becomes Youngest Female to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

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McKinley Corbley
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Roxy Getter just became the youngest female to ever reach the peak of Mount Kilimanjoro – and she hasn’t even peaked into her teen years yet.

Because 8-year-old Roxy and her 10-year-old brother Ben have both had heart issues in the past, their parents talked to a cardiologist before the climb to make sure that they would be okay.

As it turns out, the kids were better than okay – their parents say that Roxy and Ben never once complained over the course of the 5-day hike. In fact, their cheerful attitudes soothed the exhaustion of hiking all 19,341 feet of the mountain.

CHECK OUT: 101-Year-old Breaks World Running Record: “I Missed My Nap for This”

In addition to the heart issues, the family has never actually camped overnight before. Though the Getters used to actively hike when they lived in Arizona, they recently moved to Florida where the only practice they could have for the Tanzanian mountain was climbing stairs.

Conquering the tallest mountain in Africa may have been an exhausting endeavor, but the family says it was all worth it – although Roxy says she might take a break from climbing mountains for a while.

(WATCH the video below)

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This Pup Was a Ringbearer at His Owner’s Wedding – and the Pictures are Adorable

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When this dapper looking pup was asked to be the honorary ring bearer at his owners’ wedding, he didn’t hesitate to say “I do”.

 

Sean McCrory and Sheree Atcheson of Belfast, Northern Ireland recently tied the knot in a happy, dazzling ceremony – but the spotlight was stolen from them by their 7-year-old pup Alfie.

 

It may have been because the dog was given his own custom-made suit for his special role in the wedding – and it was really adorable.

 

When it became his time to shine, he determinedly charged down the aisle to where the lovebirds were waiting for him.

 

And the photos from the cute occasion, which were captured by Kat Mervyn Photography, are even more precious.

 

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends (Photos by Kat Mervyn Photography)

Thousands Send Rainbow Pictures to 9-Year-Old Who Lost Both His Parents

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McKinley Corbley
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This little boy believes that though his parents are gone, they are not far away – in fact, he believes that they are just over the rainbow.

Robbie Ecuyer, a 9-year-old autistic boy from New York, absolutely loves rainbows. His mother Shelley, who was suffering from gastroparesis and cystic fibrosis, always used to tell him that if anything happened to her, she would be crossing a rainbow bridge into heaven.

So when Shelley passed away in May – just two weeks after her husband Robert died of an overdose – a family member was shocked to see a double rainbow stretching over Robbie’s school on the very same day. She snapped a photo with the intention of showing it to Robbie later that day.

CHECK OUT: Strangers Step Up For Man With Down Syndrome Who Lost Beloved Film Collection in Fire

He was so excited to see the stunning picture, he started going outside every time it rained so he could look for more rainbows.

After Shelley’s sister Crystal Skawinski was given custody of the youngster, she took to social media with a plea for strangers to share their own pictures of rainbows for the days when Robbie couldn’t find any.

Under the hashtag #RainbowsForRobbie, over 7,000 people from all over the world have sent in the most dazzling photos of double and single rainbows. Strangers from Romania, Australia, Budapest, Belgium, California, Spain, and the Netherlands have all submitted photos.

The new family has been so excited to receive all the photos, they plan on putting together a scrapbook in order to document all of the different rainbows.

If you want to send your own rainbow photo, click here.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Sweet News With Your Friends – OR,  (Photo by Crystal Skawinski)

UK to Hold First Ever Nationwide Quiet Hour for Autistic Shoppers

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For a full hour in October, stores and shopping centers across the United Kingdom will be giving autistic customers a break by hosting a “quiet hour”.

All of the stores in the UK’s 14 Intu shopping centers, Toys R Us outlets, and other retailers will be dimming their lights, quieting their music, and reducing the amount of commotion in their stores for sixty minutes on October 2nd.

The initiative is part of a National Autistic Society campaign to raise awareness for the information overload that autistic children experience. According to the organization, over 700,000 UK residents experience autism, and a large majority of these people avoid shopping all together because of the overwhelming environment.

CHECK OUT: Plane Passengers Are Left “In Awe” of Woman’s Kindness Towards Agitated Boy With Autism

Hopefully, thanks to the National Autistic Society’s partnership with Intu, the quiet hour will become a regular occurrence that can give autistic shoppers a break from the hustle and bustle of stressful shopping.

“We are asking every shop, restaurant and leisure brand in our centers to dim their lights and reduce their music for an hour and to raise awareness of autism among their staff and customers,” said Intu’s corporate responsibility director Alexander Nicoll.

“We hope that launching the National Autistic Society’s Autism Hour in our centers will encourage many more organizations across the country to take these simple steps that will make life easier for the millions of people impacted by autism.

“We want to put a smile on the face of everyone who visits an Intu centre and this means training our staff, supporting our customers and working with brands in our centers as well as organizations like the National Autistic Society to provide a welcoming and accessible experience for all.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Intu)

Community Shows Up in Full Force to Love Hero Dog in His Final Hours

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McKinley Corbley
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Losing a furry friend is always hard – but this goodbye in particular was especially hard for Lance Corporal Jeff DeYoung.

When DeYoung was just 19 years old, he was deployed to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. He wasn’t alone, however – he was also joined by Cena the bomb-sniffing pooch.

During their tour together, DeYoung would carry Cena across rivers and protect the dog from enemy fire. The two would keep each other warm by snuggling together through the night. Throughout their time together in 2009 and 2010, they were virtually inseparable.

CHECK OUT: Hospital Grants Dying Patient’s Last Wish For Wine, Cigarette

After they retired, DeYoung adopted Cena, which also helped him deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder.

Then, two weeks ago, the faithful hound was diagnosed with bone cancer and lost his ability to walk.

Heartbroken by the prognosis, the marine’s brother-in-arms made a GoFundMe campaign in order to help raise money for vet bills, tasty dog food, and a rental Jeep with a detachable roof so Cena could feel the breeze in his face one last time. The page, which has raised over $62,000, will also pay for a bronze statue of the pup as a headstone.

WATCH: Mom Brought To Tears When Wild Bird Comforts Her at Son’s Grave

“This dog was more than a pet to us,” said DeYoung’s fellow marine, Jacobie Baumann. “He was another brother.”

Additionally, as news of Cena’s impending fate became more widely spread, the community turned up in full force in order say goodbye to the dog and give him a proper military sendoff. Over 100 people from around Muskegon, Michigan were in attendance of the ceremony on Wednesday.

DeYoung carried the 10-year-old pup on his shoulders into the USS LST 393 Museum with dozens of onlookers waving goodbye. After he was euthanized, Cena was carried out in a casket with an American flag draped over it.

While Cena will be missed, it is safe to say that he was certainly given a canine funeral fit for a king.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Jacobie Baumann)

Tesla’s Solar Roof May Actually Be Cheaper Than Your Own Roof

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Almost 6 months ago, media sources were speculating on the prices of Tesla’s solar roofing tiles – and now, the numbers are in

In contrast to the original price tag of $24.50 per square foot that was previously estimated by Consumer Reports, Tesla announced in May that the tiles would be $21.85 – roughly 20% less than the price of a normal roof.

And that’s all without factoring in the price of energy savings.

The tiles, which are photovoltaic panels covered in reinforced glass, currently come in four styles: tuscan, slate, smooth and textured. All of these designs have been created to look like normal roof tiles; except now they’re saving the planet, and saving you money.

CHECK OUT: Tesla Surpasses Ford in Market Value

“When you include the benefits of the solar production, Solar Roof will cost less than a regular roof,” says the Tesla website. “In fact it may earn you money – as an example, the out-of-pocket cost of a Solar Roof for a typical home in Maryland will be around $52,000, but after considering the tax credit and the value of energy it generates, the roof will actually pay for itself and earn you about $8,000 over 30 years.”

If that isn’t intriguing enough, the company is also throwing in a free lifetime warranty. But considering the tempered solar glass used for the roofing tiles is three times stronger and two times lighter than normal tile, you might not even need the warranty.

“They do not degrade over time like asphalt or concrete. Solar Roof is the most durable roof available and the glass itself will come with a warranty for the lifetime of your house, or infinity, whichever comes first.”

Anyone interested in buying the Solar Roof can place an order or get an estimation for the tiles on the Tesla website. Installations outside of the United States are expected to begin in early 2018.

Turn Sunshine into Power by Sharing The News on Social Media…  (Photo by Tesla)

Stranger Helps Woman Down on Her Luck – Gets Repaid Years Later

By
McKinley Corbley
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Three years ago, a man felt compelled to pull over and help an unfortunate woman stuck in the rain. Now, they are repaying each other for the kindness they received

In 2014, TunDe Hector had $5 to her name when her car broke down in the pouring rain. As she trudged down the road towards a gas station, Chris Wright was driving his family to church when he saw Hector and felt compelled to help her.

After dropping his family off at the church, he turned around, picked Hector up in his car, drove her to a convenience station, paid for her gas, and gave her all the money in his wallet. Though Hector was overwhelmingly grateful for the stranger’s kindness, they parted ways expecting to never see each other again.

CHECK OUT: Strangers Step Up For Man With Down Syndrome Who Lost Beloved Film Collection in Fire

This year, Chris’s mother Judy fell ill with Parkinson’s disease. As her health started to decline, her family hired a team of nursing aides to take care of her.

One nurse in particular was especially attentive of Judy, and the Wrights adored her presence in their home.

“We quickly realized that she was our guardian angel,” said Chris’s wife Carmen.

One day when the nursing aid was chatting with the Wrights about her past, she told a story about how she once got stuck in the rain with only $5 in her pocket when a compassionate stranger pulled over and helped her out. Chris then realized that the nursing aid was TunDe Hector – the woman he had helped three years ago.

“Chris was stunned,” said Carmen. “He then informed TunDe and those listening, that the ‘young man’ in her story was him.”

MORE: Hospital Grants Dying Patient’s Last Wish For Wine, Cigarette

“Tears were shed. God was praised because we don’t believe in coincidence,” she added. “The encounter that had blessed them both 3 years ago, came full-circle when the Lord appointed TunDe to show up on our doorstep to care for Judy.”

When Judy passed away on Hector’s birthday, the nursing aide rushed over, still clothed in her birthday attire so she could be there for the Wrights.

“It would be an understatement to describe TunDe as amazing,” says Carmen. “She exudes joy and lives every breath to serve people…”

Then, as a means of repaying Hector for her kindness, the Wrights set up a YouCaring page to help pay off the aide’s nursing school tuition. Their initial goal of $1,000 was shattered last week when they managed to raise $35,000.

They filmed Hector’s reaction upon hearing about the crowdfunding page – and the results are overwhelmingly moving.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends – OR,  (Photo by the Wright Family)

Scared 4-Year-Old Girl Calls Police to Check Her House for Monsters

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When a little girl was scared of finding monsters in her new home, she knew just who to call: the local police.

4-year-old Sidney Fahrenbruch had just moved into a house in Longmont, Colorado two weeks ago when she started hearing spooky noises from around the building.

As a means of ensuring that her house was safe, she then called Officer David Bonday and asked if he could come over and help make sure that there weren’t monsters hiding under the furniture.

RELATED: Strangers Join Police Officers to Buy 95-Year-old New Air Conditioner

She asked Bonday to be her police partner specifically after meeting him at a community fundraiser a month earlier. Considering that Fahrenbruch is aspiring to be a police officer when she grows up, it is not surprising that she opted to call the boys in blue, rather than the Ghostbusters.

“It was probably one of the cutest things I’ve ever been involved with as a police officer,” Officer Bonday told ABC News.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Cute Story With Your Friends (Photo by Megan Fahrenbruch)

“Game of Thrones” Helps Rescue Farm With Uncommon Animals in Ireland

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While “Game of Thrones” may be about rulers of dragons, this man takes care of much smaller animals – and he is only able to do so because of the beloved television show.

Kenny Gracey is the owner of a small farm in Northern Ireland that cares for “rare” animals that are traditional to the British Isles, such as the Saddleback pig, the Jacob sheep, and the Longhorn cattle.

A few years ago, however, Gracey and his farm fell on hard financial times. If he didn\’t find help quickly enough, he would not be able to keep his beloved animals.

CHECK OUT: Rick Steves Sacrifices Nest Egg to House Dozens of Homeless Women and Kids

He and his livestock were saved when the “Game of Thrones” producers coincidentally began filming the first season of the show around the same time that Gracey started having problems.

The producers said that they wanted to use animals that were native to the British Isles for the show\’s background scenes – and those animals happened to be on Gracey\’s farm. When they asked whether Gracey would be willing to provide these animals, he accepted.

Ever since the show began, Gracey has been paid to be the show\’s official animal handler alongside his furry companions – and he says that he has never been happier.

(WATCH the video below)

Don\’t Be A Naysayer: Click To Share With Your Friends

Connecticut Became 14th US State to Ban Civil Forfeiture

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With unanimous votes in the House and Senate, Connecticut became the 14th US state to ban civil forfeiture of cash or property without a criminal conviction. (Forbes)

20 Years of Building a Backyard Pool Finally Pays Off—And Stuns the Neighborhood

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Good News Network
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Micky Thornton’s vision for building a proper pool began when he was a little boy swimming around and feeling like he was trapped in a box. No one would get that impression today in his Tennessee backyard.

He started construction on his dream 25 years ago, and the pool, complete with waterfall, cascading rocks and natural landscaping, is now a national phenomenon where groups pay to come romp in the Memphis sunshine.

MORE: The Man Who Single-handedly Carved A Road Through a Mountain for His Wife

Micky started work on the backyard project in 1993—a place where his wife and family could bring their friends for a swim. His neighbors never imagined the giant watery playground would end up like this 20 years later.

The Thorntons didn’t wanted to charge money for the pool, but after so many people insisted they should collect a fee, the family acquiesced, reports WREG news.

They also take reservations for large groups, family reunions, and weddings through their Facebook page.

(WATCH the Video from WREG News) – Image via WREG video

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People in High Stress Jobs Should Be Given Video Gaming Breaks, Says Research

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More than half of Americans regularly experience cognitive fatigue related to stress, frustration, and anxiety while at work. Those in safety-critical fields, such as air traffic control and health care, are at an even greater risk for cognitive fatigue, which could lead to errors.

Given the amount of time that people spend playing games on their smartphones and tablets, a team of human factors/ergonomics researchers decided to evaluate whether casual video game play is an effective way to combat workplace stress during rest breaks.

WATCH: Children’s Hospital Uses ‘Pokemon GO’ to Get Patients Excited and Out of Bed

In a new online article, Michael Rupp and coauthors used a computer-based task to induce cognitive fatigue in 66 participants, who were then given a five-minute rest break. During the break, participants either played a casual video game, participated in a guided relaxation activity, or sat quietly in the testing room without using a phone or computer. At various times throughout the experiment, the researchers measured participants’ affect (e.g., stress level, mood) and cognitive performance.

Those who took a silent rest break reported that they felt less engaged with work and experienced worry as a result, whereas those who participated in the guided relaxation activity saw reductions in negative affect and distress. Only the video game players reported that they felt better after taking the break.

RELATED: Dad Creates Free Minecraft Server Specifically Dedicated to Kids With Autism

Rupp, a doctoral student in human factors and cognitive psychology at the University of Central Florida, notes, “We often try to power through the day to get more work finished, which might not be as effective as taking some time to detach for a few minutes. People should plan short breaks to make time for an engaging and enjoyable activity, such as video games, that can help them recharge.”

(Source: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Shane’s Stuff, CC)

35 Fellow Cops Finish the Treehouse a Slain Officer Was Building For Daughter

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As a means of honoring a recently fallen police officer, these 35 cops and state troopers got together to finish construction of a very special project.

Retired and active officers from the New York State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Watertown City Police all got together to finish building the treehouse that Officer Joel Davis had been building for his teenage daughter Jaila.

In less than a day, the officers put the finishing touches on Jaila’s fort, completing features like a ladder, windows, a string of lights, and a balcony.

CHECK OUT: Strangers Join Police Officers to Buy 95-Year-old New Air Conditioning

The 36-year-old father and state trooper had been shot in early July when he responded to a domestic violence call in Jefferson County.

Thanks to his fellow boys in blue, however, his daughter will always have the memory of undying friendship and love to warm her life in the coming years.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends – OR,  (Photo by Trooper Jack Keller)

Watch These Tenacious Rabbits Riding on the Backs of Sheep to Escape Floodwaters

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Even though it involved some daring stunts, these bunnies weren’t sheepish about hitching a ride to safety.

Extreme weather on the South Island of New Zealand became particularly dangerous this weekend when record-breaking floods caused a state of emergency and mass evacuations.

64-year-old Ferg Horne was checking up on his neighbor’s sheep on Saturday night when he found that the flock had fled to safety at the top of the hill.

LOOK: Rescued Young Kangaroo is Convinced He’s a Dog, Loves Life on the Farm

When he got closer to the sheep, however, he saw something strange: three bunnies had hopped on the backs of two separate sheep in order to escape the water below.

While rabbits are considered pests by most farmers in New Zealand, Horne decided to leave the rabbits alone as a reward for their resilience.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, they were just sitting there keeping out of the water, they must have got to the high spot and then jumped up on to the back of the sheep to stay dry,” Horne told the Guardian. “It shows you how resilient they are and why they survive so well.”

(WATCH some of his wooly video below)

Hop This Story Over To Your Friends: Click To Share (Photo by Ferg Horne)

Trouble Sleeping? The ‘Dullest Movie Ever Made’ was Filmed to be a Perfect Cure For Insomnia

By
McKinley Corbley
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This 8-hour film gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “counting sheep”.

Baa Baa Land, created by the producers of the hit meditation app Calm, will surely to go down as “the dullest movie ever made” because the main goal was to help people fall asleep.

The movie is composed entirely of soothing shots of sheep standing in fields – and that’s about it. No dialogue, no plot, no conflict, no characters; just bewetiful slow-motion content and the calming soundtrack of sheep noises.

The film will premiere at the Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End – and online via the Calm website – this September.

RELATED: New Best-selling Book Designed to Put Children to Sleep in Minutes

“It’s better than any sleeping pill – the ultimate insomnia cure”, says Alex Tew, Baa Baa Land’s executive producer and co-founder of Calm.

According to the film’s representatives, Baa Baa Land only ranks as the 19th longest film ever made. (The longest movie ever recorded is Logistics: an avant-garde Swedish project that is apparently 857 hours long.) However, the filmmakers claim that this may be the first ever feature-length flick that has been produced by an app company.

MORE:  Natural Way To Treat Common Vertigo is Discovered by Colorado Doctor

“We’re in discussion about U.S., and wider, distribution and in talks with an American TV channel,” says Michael Acton Smith, its other executive producer and Calm’s co-founder. “We don’t expect it to break box-office records but [we] believe there is at least a niche audience for it.”

While the movie does jump on the coat tails of the recent Oscar-award winning hit La La Land, there is no relation between the two films, as none of the sheep break out into song or dance. Maybe they should have called it Silence of the Lambs II.

(WATCH the trailer below)

Be A Lamb: Click To Share With Your Friends

Goals of Paris Agreement May Be Met Sooner Than Expected

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waynejparker
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The precipitous drop in costs for renewable energy technology—even from prices a few years ago—means that carbon emissions may decrease faster and hit the targets earlier than those envisioned by the Paris Climate Agreement. Here are three technologies making that happen:

1. Solar – the average price of a MWh of electricity from solar cells has dropped from $394 in 2009 to $55 today. Solar accounted for 39% of all new electric generating capacity last year, topping all other methods for the first time.

2. Wind – the cost of wind power has likewise dropped dramatically, from an average of $135 per megawatt-hour in 2009 to $47. Wind energy is currently generated in 41 of the 50 U.S. states, with capacity of 82,000 megawatts, double the amount 6 years ago.

CHECK OUT: India Plants Record-breaking 66 Million Trees in 12 Hours

3. Electric Vehicles (EVs) – the changes in EV availability, cost, range and customer acceptance are remarkable.

EVs like the Tesla 3 and Chevy Bolt have a range of over 200 miles. Even the 25-30 mile range of many new plug-in hybrids covers over 80% of the trips most people take, with the gasoline engine available for the remainder. The cost of the new Tesla and Bolt is around $35,000, yet the average cost of a new car in the US this year is $34,000. Over 20 new EVs will be introduced in the next year, with the cost per mile for electricity usually less than half the cost of gasoline, depending on fuel costs in each area.

Recharging EV batteries takes less time today; some of the newer technologies can charge batteries to 80% capacity in 30 minutes or less—which makes the growing network of recharging stations at restaurants and highway stops more pertinent.

MORE: Company is Offering to Retrain Coal Miners as Wind Farmers For Free

Tesla’s Model X was tested as the safest SUV ever, of any type. Without a gasoline motor or transmission, EVs can have larger ‘crumple zones’ and the batteries under the floor create a lower center of gravity reducing roll-overs. They often accelerate faster than gasoline-powered cars because of the greater range of torque in electric motors.

Non-hybrid EVs also win the maintenance test since they have no transmission, engine, radiator, water pump, oil pump, etc. to service. Because of their simplicity and the reliability of electric motors, EVs may last 500,000 miles or more.

While coal currently provides about 30% of US electricity, that number is declining with each passing year. In contrast, the share of renewables is growing rapidly and will surpass coal, perhaps sooner rather than later. Thus, as time goes on, EVs will be even better for the environment as their source fuel becomes cleaner.

RELATED: 10-Year-old Boy Invents Device That Will Save Children From Hot Cars

The economic momentum of renewably-powered cars is also moving governments to support the trend. India’s new policy is that the country will sell only EVs by 2030. China is singing the same tune, with new requirements and support of their own EV industry. Britain and France just announced an end to fossil fuel cars in their countries by 2040.

Wayne Parker is a consultant who helped develop one of the earliest electric car competitions and was Deputy Director of California’s SolarCal office. He lives in Eugene, Oregon now and has a Tesla Model 3 on order. (Find him on LinkedIn)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Topaz Solar Farm)

World’s First Floating Ocean Wind Farm is Set to Start Powering European Coastline

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Good News Network
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Inspired by the oil and gas rigs that can weather the strongest storms, a flotilla of wind turbines is being assembled in deep waters off the northeastern coast of Scotland.

Destined to become the first floating wind farm in the world, two of the five turbines have just been moved into place by the Norwegian alternative energy company Statoil.

The turbines, stationed 15 miles offshore, are not only to designed to withstand gale force winds, but their placement will avoid the visual impact of land-based wind farms, which often repel community support along coastal areas.

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All the five turbines that will power the Peterhead Wind Farm will soar overhead at 575 feet tall (175m) atop a flotation base with a depth of 229 feet (70m). Located 15 miles offshore, the farm will power over 20,000 Scottish homes.

Typical offshore turbines can only be planted in water that reaches 130 feet (40 meters) deep. The Peterhead farm, however, raises hopes that offshore windmills can be productive in deeper ocean shelves like those surrounding the U.S. and Japan.

The farm is also being lauded by animal conservationists as an environmental victory, since offshore windmills are unlikely to endanger sea birds that nest along the coastlines.

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Spread the Innovation With Your Friends– OR,   (Artist Rendering by Statoil)

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